Grandiflora rose plant named ‘Meitadeha’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Grandiflora rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive double strongly fragrant blossoms that are vermillion dusted with darker red in coloration. The vegetation is strong. A vigorous upright growth habit is displayed. The foliage is dense dark green with a matte upper surface. The disease resistance is good, particularly with respect to mildew and rust. The plant is well suited for providing distinctive attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Grandiflora Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meitadeha.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Grandiflora rose plant was created in France by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Meivildo’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,895). The male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Meizincaro’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,660) and the ‘Prairie Princess’ variety (non-patented in the United States).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Meivildo’×(‘Meizincaro’×‘Prairie Princess’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Grandiflora rose plant of the present invention:

-   -   (a) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (b) exhibits an upright growth habit with dense dark green         foliage having a matte upper surface,     -   (c) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive         double strongly fragrant blossoms that display vermillion dusted         with darker red coloration, and     -   (d) is well suited for providing distinctive attractive         ornamentation in the landscape.

The vermillion dusted with red blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the glossy dark green foliage.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as colorful ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors upon an inspection of the blossoms. More specifically, the ‘Meivildo’ variety forms neyron pink blossoms having a greater number of petals, the ‘Meizincaro’ variety forms blossoms of uniform cardinal red coloration, and the ‘Prairie Princess’ variety forms light pink blossoms that are only slightly fragrant.

The new variety also can be distinguished from other Grandiflora rose varieties. For instance, the new variety displays a less clear and less uniform blossom coloration than the ‘Meilolipo’ variety (non-patented in the United States). When compared with the ‘Meizincaro’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,660), it is found that the ‘Meizincaro’ blossoms lack dusting with a darker red coloration unlike the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France, by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Such asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meitadeha’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observed during June while asexually reproduced from cuttings and growing outdoors on their own roots at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Standard color information is provided at the bottom of the photograph for comparative purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the full opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the full opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 3 leaflets—plan view—upper surface (right) and—under surface (left);

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 5 leaflets—plan view—upper surface (right) and—under surface (left); and

FIG. 16 illustrates representative petals—plan view—upper surface (right) and—under surface (left).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 or equivalent) except where ordinary color terms are utilized. Common color terms are to be accorded their customary dictionary significance. The description is based upon the observation of plants of the new variety at an age of approximately two years during the month of June while being grown on their own roots at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Grandiflora. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height.—Commonly approximately 70 to 80 cm on average.         -   Width.—Commonly approximately 70 cm on average. -   Branches:     -   -   Number.—Commonly approximately four main branches on             average.         -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146C.             Adult wood: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 147B.         -   Thorns.—Configuration: curved downwards and elongated on the             upper surface and concave on the under surface with an oval             base. Quantity and size on young stems: commonly             approximately 15 on average having lengths of approximately             6 to 7 mm over a stem length of 10 cm, and approximately 28             on average having lengths of approximately 1 to 2 mm over a             stem length of 10 cm. Quantity and size on adult stems:             commonly approximately 20 on average having lengths of             approximately 7 to 8 mm over a stem length of 10 cm, and             approximately 6 on average having length of approximately 2             mm over a stem length of 10 cm. Color on young stems: near             Greyed-Orange Group 174A. Color on adult stems: near             Greyed-Orange Group 174A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Overall appearance.—Dense dark green.         -   Leaflets.—Shape: generally oval.         -   Length.—Commonly approximately 6 to 7 cm on average.         -   Width.—Commonly approximately 3 to 5 cm on average. Number:             3, and most often 5 and 7. Apex: generally cuspidate. Base:             obtuse. Serration: slightly denticulate, small and single.             Texture: firm, and leathery, and matte on the upper surface.             Color (young foliage): near Green Group 137B on the upper             surface, and near Green Group 138B on the under surface.             Color (adult foliage): near Green Group 137A on the upper             surface, and Yellow-Green Group 148B on the under surface.         -   Venation.—Regularly arranged around a main vein, and the             coloration is near Green Group 137A on the upper surface and             near Yellow-Green Group 148B on the under surface.         -   Petiole.—Length: commonly approximately 4 cm on average.             Texture: non-glandular on the upper surface and commonly             with a few prickles on the under surface. Color: Green Group             137A on the upper surface, and near Green Group 138A on the             under surface.         -   Rachis.—Length: commonly approximately 1.7 cm on average.             Diameter: commonly approximately 2 mm on average. Texture:             smooth. Color: near Green Group 137B on the upper surface,             and near Green Group 138B on the under surface.         -   Stipules.—General appearance: adnate, pectinate, and rather             broad. Size: commonly approximately 2.7 to 3 cm in length on             average, and approximately 7 mm in width on average. Color:             near Green Group 138B on the upper surface, and near             Yellow-Green Group 148C on the under surface. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 3 blossoms             per stem.         -   Peduncle.—Glandular, commonly approximately 7 cm in length             on average, approximately 3 mm in diameter on average, and             near Yellow Group 138B in coloration.         -   Sepals.—Shape: elongated with small extensions, initially             borne upright at the base. Texture: tomentose on upper             surface, and smooth on the under surface. Size:             approximately 3 cm in length on average, and approximately             1.2 cm in width on average at the base. Color: near             Yellow-Green Group 148C on the upper surface, and Green             Group 138B on the under surface.         -   Buds.—Shape: generally conical and medium in size. Length:             approximately 2.5 cm on average. Width: approximately 1.9 cm             at the widest point on average. Color: as the calyx breaks:             on the upper surface near Red Group 47B and 47C slightly             suffused with near Red Group 40A and 40B and dusted with Red             Group 52A, and on the under surface near Red Group 54A             suffused with Red Group 52A.         -   Flower.—Diameter: approximately 10 cm on average when fully             open. Depth: commonly approximately 6 to 8 cm on average.             Shape: cup-shaped. Color (in course of opening): upper side:             near Red Group 55B dusted with near Red Group 52A and more             or less edged with near Red Group 43B with a spot of near             Yellow Group 2B at the base. under side: near Red-Purple             Group 68B suffused with near Red-Purple Group 67C with a             spot of near Yellow Group 2B at the base. Color (when open):             upper side: near Red Group 55B dusted with near Red Group             52C with a spot of near Yellow Group 2B at the base. under             side: near Red Group 55B and 55C suffused with near             Red-Purple Group 58C with a spot of Yellow Group 2B at the             base. Fragrance: strong. Petal number: commonly             approximately 35 on average under normal growing conditions.             Petal shape: commonly display a rounded tip and an obtuse             base. Petal arrangement: imbricated and commonly without             petaloids. Petal texture: firm and leathery. Petal length:             commonly approximately 3.5 cm on average. Petal width:             commonly approximately 3.8 cm on average. Petal drop: good             with the petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying.             Stamen number: commonly approximately 172 on average.             Anthers: arranged regularly around the styles, commonly             approximately 2 to 3 mm in size on average, and near             Yellow-Orange Group 23D in coloration. Filaments: commonly             approximately 8 mm in length on average, and near Orange             Group 28C in coloration. Pistils: commonly approximately 95             on average. Styles: commonly approximately 4 mm in size on             average, and near Yellow Group 11D in coloration. Stigmas:             commonly approximately 1 mm in size and near Yellow-Orange             Group 20C in coloration. Receptacle: pitcher-shaped,             commonly approximately 6 mm in length on average, commonly             approximately 1 cm in width at the widest point, smooth in             texture, and near Green Group 138B in coloration. Hips:             substantially round in configuration, and commonly contain             10 to 13 seeds on average. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.         -   Blooming.—Early season, very abundant and substantially             continuous.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—very good, particularly with respect             to mildew and rust. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant characterized by the following characteristics: (a) forms vigorous vegetation, (b) exhibits an upright growth habit with dense dark green foliage having a matte upper surface, (c) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive double strongly fragrant blossoms that display vermillion dusted with darker red coloration, and (d) is well suited for providing distinctive attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as shown and described. 